Finished

AH-64D Apache "Block II Version - Early"

Colors

FIAT G.50 bis/AS "Freccia"

Tank truck, top view

CMP C60L Water Truck

Right front

Spitfire Mk. VI

Left rear

Bristol Beaufighter TF.X

Finished Model - Mast Closeup

HMS Roberts

Parts detail 1

HMS Dreadnought – 1907

Aft section

"Blue Devil" Fletcher-class Destroyer

Right overhead

Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I

7

RF-4E Phantom II, JASDF 501st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

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Welcome to the IPMS/USA Reviews site!

Introduction: The primary organization of the IPMS/USA Review website is by IPMS/USA National Contest Class. Within each Class there are sub-menus by kits, decals, books, etc. The Miscellaneous Class is for items that are not class specific or that cross two or more classes.

IPMS/USA Members: We encourage you to submit reviews, both here and to the Journal. To volunteer for membership in the IPMS/USA "Reviewers Corps" and submit your own reviews, please read the Guidelines For Submitting Product Reviews.

Manufacturers, publishers, and other industry members: IPMS/USA is pleased to offer your company the opportunity for product reviews. All product reviews are performed by IPMS/USA members, and are posted in the publicly-accessible section of our website. With very few exceptions, we perform full build reviews of new kit releases, aftermarket products, and supplies. If you would care to provide product samples for review, please contact John Noack, IPMS/USA 1st VP.

To learn more about IPMS/USA, please see our About Us page.

Decal Package

P-38J/L Lightning Decals
Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.00

While the P-38 gained its notoriety over the waters of the Pacific, I have always preferred it in D-Day stripes. This sheet by Iliad Design caters to both theaters of operations.

There are 3 natural metal finish birds from the Pacific:

  1. P-38J flown by Lt. Ken Ladd, 80th FS, 8th FG
  2. P-38J flown by Lt. J.C. McHenry, 7th FS, 49th FG
  3. P-38L flown by Maj. J.A. Watkins, also of the 7th FS, 49th FG

These are balanced by 4 birds flown over the European continent:

Box Art

Me-262A-1a/U2
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$30.99

Thanks very much to Hobbyboss for providing IPMS/USA this marvelous review kit; I thought we were done with Me262 improvements, but I was wrong… at an excellent price!

When Dave Morrissette told me the Trumpeter Me262 was an outstanding kit, I bought one and put it away for another day. He was right – excellent detail and superior presentation. Now, take that excellence, shrink it to 1/48th scale, and you have the Hobbyboss Me262. In this case, it is the single seat nightfighter. Markings are provided for one version, that being Werke Nr. 170056, the history of which you may research yourself (no spoon-feeding here!).

The overall kit is state of the art; surface details are restrained, fit is excellent, and I only had a couple of areas that are probably of my doing that required extra work.

Cover

Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Yamato
Review Author
Mike Hanson
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$24.95

This publication is a Japanese-language magazine devoted to what the modeler might find interesting about the IJN Yamato. It was published by ModelArt, apparently to coincide with the release of the new 1/350 scale Yamato from Tamiya.

While there is a short English translation of the operational history of the Yamato class, the bulk of the magazine is in Japanese. Unfortunately, I don’t read Japanese, but there are some great photos and drawings in the book that are informative in their own right.

The first section of the book is devoted to the new Tamiya 1/350 Yamato, with some great photos of the built kit and an informative set of photos on how to complete the new “post and wire” railings included with this kit. It then goes on to cover previous model releases in 1/700 scale.

Decal Package

VFA-147 Argonauts F-18E 2012 Cruise Decals
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

The newest release from Bob Sanchez and Twobobs is a set for the VFA-147 Argonauts aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. The Argonauts are based at NAS Lemoore and transitioned into their current planes, the F-18E Hornet, in 2008. The set is designed for either the Hasegawa or Revell F-18E single-seat Hornet and represent the planes on their 2012 cruise.

Decal Package

VAQ-130 "Zappin' Growlers" EA-18G Decals
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

Bob Sanchez and Twobobs continue their excellent new releases with a set for the EA-18 Growler. This set covers Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the "Zappers" and based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Currently part of Carrier Air Wing 3, the Zappers deploy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). VAQ-130 is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the U.S. Navy.

This set covers two planes, the CAG plane with black tail and spine with a green dragon breathing lightning bolts, and a line plane in all gray with the same markings. This kits listed are for Revell and Hasegawa F-18F with the Steel Beach conversions. I would suggest that the Hasegawa Growler release may be your best choice and it was reviewed here: http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/ea-18g-growler.